Joe Hackney is hitting Barack Obama up for money.
The speaker of the state House wrote a Nov. 12 letter to the incoming president asking for an economic stimulus package to include funding for states.
"As you know, 49 states have requirements to balance their budgets each year," he wrote. "During uncertain economic times, the decisions that state legislatures and governors have to make to keep their budgets balanced — cutting spending, raising taxes or both — can have the pro-cyclical affect of deepening and prolonging any slump."
The letter outlines options for a stimulus package that would include increased spending on repairing and replacing infrastructure, boosting Medicaid, food stamps and other social welfare programs, and changing sales and use tax collection.
The letter was sent on behalf of the National Conference of State Legislatures, where Hackney is currently serving as president.
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Hurry! It's Uncle Sam's bailout madness!
Are you a failing bank? Big business? Auto maker? State government? We don't care! Hurry to Washington now to take advantage of Uncle Sam's huge, once-in-a-lifetime Bailout Madness Giveaway! No one will be turned away*!
But you gotta hurry! Get here before the money runs out!
* Hard-hit individual taxpayers excepted. You got your stimulus package already. Well, except you rich jerks.